diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index aa6aaa8d19..b778b5fa8e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -61,15 +61,13 @@ add_project_arguments('-D_GNU_SOURCE', language: 'c')
 
 gtk_debug_cflags = []
 buildtype = get_option('buildtype')
-if buildtype == 'debugoptimized' or buildtype == 'debug'
+if buildtype.startswith('debug')
   gtk_debug_cflags += '-DG_ENABLE_DEBUG'
   if buildtype == 'debug'
     gtk_debug_cflags += '-DG_ENABLE_CONSISTENCY_CHECKS'
-  else
-    gtk_debug_cflags += '-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS'
   endif
-else
-  gtk_debug_cflags += [ '-DG_DISABLE_ASSERT', '-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS', '-DG_DISABLE_CHECKS', ]
+elif buildtype == 'release'
+  gtk_debug_cflags += '-DG_DISABLE_CAST_CHECKS'
 endif
 
 add_project_arguments(gtk_debug_cflags, language: 'c')